Parents should not fear being first teachers of Catholic faith

My last child is going through our parish confirmation program, and my husband and I recently attended the parents’ orientation meeting. Since we’ve been through this process two other times, we figured we knew what was ahead of us.

I was surprised that I heard, maybe re-heard, a few things that gave me pause and made me really think about the sacrament she was about to receive. The meeting began with a video from Ascension Press narrated by Father Mike Schmitz.

Father Mike let the parents know that through confirmation our children would be strengthened as sons and daughters of God, sealed with the Holy Spirit and sent out into the world to spread the Word and defend the faith. They would take on the cross and be a shining light for all to see.

Well, I thought, yes, that is exactly what happens in confirmation and was so beautifully explained and easy to understand. We were reminded to not be ashamed of our Catholic faith and be prepared to discuss it with our children openly and often.

We should also make it a point, if we weren’t already doing so, to regularly attend Mass with our children and let them see us go to confession. It’s important for our children to see us asking for forgiveness and doing penance.

We were told that during the confirmation process, candidates have to be willing to change and become disciples of Christ in everyday life. It’s hard to think of my 16-year-old as a disciple, but that is exactly what she is doing as she goes through confirmation.

I felt myself getting excited for her and this rite of passage that she was embarking on. Confirmation is a culmination of everything she’s learned throughout her Catholic education and a completion of the promise we made to God at her baptism that we would raise her in the Catholic faith and guide her to receive all the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church.

Upon completion of the program, she will be a full member of the Catholic church, and my husband and I will have successfully gotten all three of our children over the finish line – so to speak.

I liked being reminded that, as parents, we are our children’s first teachers of the faith. I never really thought about the fact that we are actually the first Catholic people they ever met and are the example of what a practicing Catholic should look like. I knew all this and have always been mindful, but hearing it weighed on me.

That is a lot of pressure. I had a few momentary thoughts: Was I a good example of a practicing Catholic? Did I teach her all that she needs to know about being Catholic? Am I really qualified to be the first Catholic person in her life? Did I show her all that the Catholic faith has to offer?

We were quickly reassured that the answer to all of the questions that were running through my head was yes. Yes, I am qualified to guide her through this process, and I was picked for this task.

The truth is, each of us parents has been called by God to be the first teacher of faith and religion for our children. He purposefully chose us for this job, and we are worthy to go on this journey and finish it with each of our children.

Kim Roberts resides in River Ridge with her husband and teenage daughter. She also has two adult children and is active at St. Matthew the Apostle Parish and its Home and School Association. She has been president of the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs, is currently on the St. Mary’s Dominican High School Parents’ Club board and works with the Notre Dame Seminary Gala Committee and the Keep Christ in Christmas Committee. She has a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Louisiana Tech University as well as a master of arts degree and is a freelance writer.